Kentucky bluegrass `Ba 72-492`

ABSTRACT

A variety of Kentucky bluegrass having a high level of disease resistance, excellent turf performance in the sun and shade and a medium level of seed yield potential.

Kentucky bluegrasses have been disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,156which issued on May 9, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,186 which issued onMay 23, 1972; U.S. Plant Pat. No. 4,336 which issued on Nov. 28, 1978;U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 872,537, filed June 10, 1986;U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 910,146, filed Sept. 19, 1986;and U.S. Plant patent application, Ser. No. 028,424, filed of even dateherewith.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Poapratensis which has been designated Ba 72-492 Kentucky bluegrass.

Ba 72-492 plant material originated by crossing a Kentucky bluegrassplant ("Gnome") disclosed in U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.872,537, the seed parent, with a pollen parent plant. As a result ofthis breeding, a distinct variety was produced and asexually propagatedby rhizomes, tillers and disseminules. Seed of Ba 72-492 was producedfirst at Marysville, Ohio and later at Gervais, Oreg.

Asexual reproduction of Ba 72-492 by propagules (tillers and rhizomes)and by disseminules (modified caryopses produced by apomixis) hasconsistently produced plants indistinguishable from the mother plant.

Ba 72-492 has a number of highly desirable characteristics including agood level of resistance to Helminthosporium spp that causes leaf spot,melting out and crown rot, Ustilago striiformis that causes stripe smut,Erysiphe graminis that causes powdery mildew, and Puccinia spp. thatcauses rust; an attractive leafy turf type growth habit; moderately wideleaf blades; an attractive green color which can be maintainedthroughout the entire growing season; good turf performance as evidencedby consistently high scores in tests throughout the U.S.A. and Canada;and a medium seed yield potential in the bluegrass seed productionregion of the U.S.A.

In comparison with its seed parent, Gnome, the new variety is more shadetolerant and has better resistance to powdery mildew and rust. Incomparison to another Kentucky bluegrass (Ba 72-500) which is disclosedin U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 910,146 which also has Gnomeas its seed parent, Ba 72-492 produces seeds that are shorter than Ba72-500 and the panicle of Ba 72-492 does not nod as much as Ba 72-500.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a photograph of Ba 72-492 Kentucky bluegrass plant in thevegetative stage including the extensive root and rhizome system;

FIG. 2 is a photograph of Ba 72-492 Kentucky bluegrass panicle; and

FIG. 3 is a photograph of Ba 72-492 Kentucky bluegrass seed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

Ba 72-492 Kentucky bluegrass (Poa protensis L.) is perennial withcreeping rhizomes forming a moderately dense turf. When plantsoverwinter in the field with freezing temperatures and then are broughtinto the greenhouse during late winter to continue growth undisturbed byclipping under moderate temperatures (60°-80° F.), culms are erectaveraging 486 mm in length with an average of 2.2 nodes per culm. Theuppermost internode averages 10.5 cm, and the peduncle averages 12.6 cmin length and 0.552 mm in thickness. The flag leaf averages 5.2 cm inlength, 3.6 mm in width and 0.117 mm in thickness. The panicle isgenerally erect as opposed to nodding with an average length of 12.6 cm,width of 4.2 cm, and 5.5 whorls. The lowest whorl has an average of 4.0branches and the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle has anaverage of 3.0 branches. The average spikelet at the tip of a branch inthe lowest whorl is 5.2 mm in length and has 4.4 florets with an outerglume of 2.9 mm and an inner glume of 3.3 mm in length. A similarspikelet from the third whorl from the bottom of the panicle is 5.0 mmin length and has 4.2 florets with an outer glume of 3.0 mm and an innerglume of 3.3 mm in length. After the seed has been conditioned, thelemma has a generally smooth keel and almost no long fine hairs at thebase. The seed of Ba 72-492 is 2.53 mm in length and 0.76 mm in widthwith approximately 1,275,740 seeds per pound. Comparisons of Ba 72-492with other bluegrass varieties on seed dimensions are shown in Table 1and on seed numbers per pound are shown in Table 2.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Seed Measurements of Ba 72-492 and Other                                      Bluegrass Varieties After Conditioning                                                        Length  Width                                                 Variety         (mm)    (mm)                                                  ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492       2.53    0.76                                                  Ba 70-139       2.86    0.78                                                  Ba 72-500       2.77    0.80                                                  Baron           3.07    0.86                                                  Bristol         2.73    0.80                                                  Nassau          2.96    0.78                                                  Newport         2.76    0.71                                                  Park            3.04    0.72                                                  Ram I           3.51    0.84                                                  Victa           3.20    0.86                                                  LSD (.05)       0.19    0.06                                                  ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Seed Counts per Pound of Ba 72-492 and                                        Other Bluegrass Varieties After Conditioning                                              Number of Seeds                                                               Per Pound                                                         ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492     1,275,740                                                       Adelphi       1,383,976                                                       America       1,659,824                                                       Gnome         1,017,641                                                       Baron         1,051,693                                                       Birka         1,223,530                                                       Bonnieblue    1,135,303                                                       Bristol       1,270,821                                                       Classic       1,250,316                                                       Eclipse       1,335,668                                                       Georgetown    1,232,913                                                       Glade         1,108,441                                                       Kenblue       1,463,923                                                       Merit         1,109,728                                                       Nassau        1,127,130                                                       Newport       1,226,481                                                       Park          1,248,349                                                       Sydsport      1,355,644                                                       Vantage       1,555,303                                                       Victa         1,038,298                                                       ______________________________________                                    

Since environmental conditions such as soil and climate may influencemorphological characters to some extent, comparisons of morphologicalcharacteristics of Ba 72-492 are made with other Kentucky bluegrassvarieties in Tables 3-7.

                  TABLE 3                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparisons of Ba 72-492 and Other                              Bluegrass Varieties Grown As Unmowed Spaced Plants                            in the Field at Marysville, Ohio.                                                    Mature Plant                                                                             Leaf Blade                                                                              Panicle                                                  Height     Width     Density                                                  2 Year Mean                                                                              Annual    2 Year Mean                                       ______________________________________                                        Ba 74-492                                                                              40           2.4       52                                            A-34     63           2.4       61                                            Bristol  31           2.0       38                                            Glade    35           2.3       58                                            Kenblue  51           2.0       43                                            Merion   28           2.3       26                                            Nugget   23           2.1       34                                            Parade   53           3.0       67                                            Park     51           2.1       54                                            P-104    39           2.4       33                                            Vantage  54           2.3       52                                            Victa    38           2.5       49                                            ______________________________________                                         Ratings:                                                                      Mature Plant Height (cm)  includes panicles.                                  Leaf Blade Width  1-4, 4 = wide blade.                                        Panicle Density  1-100, 100 = high panicle density                       

                  TABLE 4                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Panicles of Ba 72-492 and Other                   Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                    ______________________________________                                                                            Number of                                         Panicle  Panicle    Panicle Whorls                                    Variety Nodding* Length (cm)                                                                              Width (cm)                                                                            Per Panicle                               ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             1.2      7.5        4.2     5.5                                       Ba 70-139                                                                             2.0      6.7        3.7     4.8                                       Ba 72-500                                                                             2.0      6.8        3.8     5.0                                       Baron   1.0      7.8        4.1     5.2                                       Bristol 2.0      9.7        5.0     5.0                                       Nassau  2.0      10.0       6.0     5.0                                       Newport 2.0      10.3       4.4     4.5                                       Park    1.6      9.0        3.7     4.0                                       Ram I   2.0      9.0        4.7     4.0                                       Victa   1.2      7.5        4.1     5.4                                       LSD (.05)                                                                             0.5      1.6        1.0     0.8                                       ______________________________________                                                              Peduncle  Peduncle                                      Number of Branches    Length    Width                                         Variety Lower Whorl                                                                              Third Whorl                                                                              (cm)    (mm)                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             4.0        3.0        12.6    0.558                                   Ba 70-139                                                                             3.8        2.7        13.2    0.610                                   Ba 72-500                                                                             4.0        2.4        12.9    0.660                                   Baron   3.8        2.5        12.7    0.559                                   Bristol 3.3        2.7        15.0    0.686                                   Nassau  3.0        2.0         8.0    0.533                                   Newport 2.3        2.3        18.0    0.558                                   Park    4.3        3.7        14.3    0.787                                   Ram I   2.5        2.0        18.5    0.610                                   Victa   4.4        3.4        12.2    0.711                                   LSD (.05)                                                                             0.7        0.8         3.7    0.018                                   ______________________________________                                         *Panicle nodding rated 1 = erect, 2 = nodding.                           

                  TABLE 5                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Culms and Flag Leaves of                          Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse                     at Marysville, Ohio.                                                          ______________________________________                                                Flag Leaf   Flag Leaf   Flag Leaf                                     Variety Length (cm) Width (mm)  Thickness (mm)                                ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             5.2         3.6         0.117                                         Ba 70-139                                                                             4.7         3.2         0.112                                         Ba 72-500                                                                             4.1         3.2         0.112                                         Baron   4.5         3.2         0.119                                         Bristol 5.5         3.4         0.127                                         Nassau  6.2         3.1         0.127                                         Newport 6.1         3.5         0.135                                         Park    4.2         2.6         0.109                                         Ram I   4.7         3.1         0.127                                         Victa   5.9         4.0         0.124                                         LSD (.05)                                                                             1.8         0.6         0.013                                         ______________________________________                                                Top Internode                                                                             Culm        Number of                                     Variety Length (cm) Length (mm) Nodes Per Culm                                ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             10.5        486         2.2                                           Ba 70-139                                                                             10.2        435         2.7                                           Ba 72-500                                                                              9.8        439         2.7                                           Baron   10.1        482         2.5                                           Bristol 11.3        522         2.7                                           Nassau  11.2        450         2.5                                           Newport 11.2        547         2.3                                           Park    13.0        578         3.0                                           Ram I   10.2        527         3.0                                           Victa   10.6        474         2.4                                           LSD (.05)                                                                              2.1         79         0.6                                           ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 6                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Spikelets and Florets of Ba 72-492                and Other Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse                               at Marysville, Ohio.                                                          ______________________________________                                                               Number of Florets                                      Spikelet               per Spikelet                                           Length (mm)            Lowest   Third                                         Variety Lowest Whorl                                                                              Third Whorl                                                                              Whorl  Whorl                                   ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             5.2         5.0        4.4    4.2                                     Ba 70-139                                                                             5.2         5.2        4.2    4.0                                     Ba 72-500                                                                             5.1         5.0        4.2    3.9                                     Baron   5.0         5.0        3.7    3.8                                     Bristol 6.2         6.0        5.7    5.3                                     Nassau  4.6         4.6        4.5    4.5                                     Newport 5.3         5.2        5.2    5.2                                     Park    6.5         6.7        5.2    4.7                                     Ram I   4.7         5.2        5.2    5.5                                     Victa   5.2         5.0        3.8    3.8                                     LSD (.05)                                                                             0.9         0.8        1.1    1.0                                     ______________________________________                                               Glume Length (mm)                                                             Outer         Inner                                                             Lowest              Lowest                                           Variety  Whorl    Third Whorl                                                                              Whorl  Third Whorl                               ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              2.9      3.0        3.3    3.3                                       Ba 70-139                                                                              3.2      3.1        3.5    3.5                                       Ba 72-500                                                                              3.1      3.1        3.4    3.4                                       Baron    2.9      2.8        3.4    3.3                                       Bristol  3.4      3.3        3.7    3.9                                       Nassau   2.3      2.4        2.7    2.7                                       Newport  2.6      2.5        2.9    2.9                                       Park     3.0      3.2        3.5    3.7                                       Ram I    2.6      2.4        2.9    2.7                                       Victa    2.8      3.0        3.3    3.3                                       LSD (.05)                                                                              0.5      0.4        0.4    0.4                                       ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 7                                                         ______________________________________                                        Morphological Comparison of Leaves of Ba 72-492 and Other                     Bluegrass Varieties in the Greenhouse at Marysville, Ohio.                    ______________________________________                                                                         Leaf                                                  Ligule   Leaf    Leaf   Angle                                                 Length   Length  Width  (Degrees                                     Variety  (mm)     (mm)    (mm)   From Horizontal)                             ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              0.28     239     4.4    52                                           Ba 70-139                                                                              0.26     218     4.1    55                                           Ba 72-500                                                                              0.25     204     4.1    50                                           Baron    0.30     313     4.4    63                                           Bristol  0.30     253     4.3    37                                           Nassau   0.22     226     3.5    39                                           Newport  0.22     251     4.1    50                                           Park     0.33     329     4.2    44                                           Ram I    0.18     188     3.7    40                                           Victa    0.28     235     4.3    52                                           LSD (.05)                                                                              0.11      49     0.6    10                                           ______________________________________                                                Hairs.sup.a Around Ligule on                                                                   Hairs.sup.a on                                                                          Hairs.sup.b on                             Variety Upper Surface of the Leaf                                                                      Collar    Ligule                                     ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             1.0              3.2       1.3                                        Ba 70-139                                                                             1.0              3.5       1.5                                        Ba 72-500                                                                             1.0              3.5       2.7                                        Baron   1.0              5.0       4.0                                        Bristol 1.3              4.7       4.3                                        Nassau  2.7              5.0       1.0                                        Newport 1.0              4.0       0.8                                        Park    1.0              1.7       0.0                                        Ram I   1.0              3.7       0.3                                        Victa   1.0              3.3       2.2                                        LSD (.05)                                                                             0.3              1.4       1.8                                        ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Hairs around ligule and on collar rated 1- 5: 1 = none, 5 = many.      .sup.b Hairs on ligule rated 0-5: 0 = none, 5 = many.                    

Ba 72-492 has performed well throughout the U.S.A. and Canada asexhibited by high turf quality ratings in many different locations incomparison to other varieties as shown in Table 8.

                  TABLE 8                                                         ______________________________________                                        Comparison of the Turf Quality of Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrass               Varieties in the U.S.A. and Canada                                            ______________________________________                                                 St. Louis Winnipeg Beltsville                                                                             Adelphia                                          Missouri  Manitoba Maryland New Jersey                                        1 Year    2 Year   1 Year   2 Year                                   Variety  Mean      Mean     Mean     Mean                                     ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              3.2       6.4      5.7      6.2                                      A-34               6.6      5.6                                               Adelphi  2.9                5.9      6.4                                      Admiral            6.0                                                        America  2.8                                                                  Aquila             7.1               5.7                                      Banff                       4.8                                               Baron    2.7       6.2      5.3      6.4                                      Birka    2.3                         5.9                                      Bonnieblue                  5.0      6.7                                      Bono                                                                          Bristol  2.7                5.0      6.5                                      Cheri                       5.1      6.0                                      Columbia                    4.9      5.9                                      Eclipse                     5.9      7.2                                      Enmundi                     5.5      6.3                                      Fylking                     4.9      5.7                                      Geary                                3.6                                      Georgetown                                                                    Geronimo                                                                      Glade    2.8                5.3      6.7                                      Gnome    2.9                         6.4                                      Kenblue                              3.3                                      Melba              6.9                                                        Merion                      5.3      6.0                                      Merit    2.8       6.5      6.1      6.2                                      Midnight                    5.5      7.3                                      Monopoly                    4.9      5.7                                      Mosa                                                                          Mystic             6.6                                                        Nassau             5.9      4.5      5.9                                      Newport                                                                       Nugget             7.1                                                        Parade                      5.0      5.6                                      Park     1.8                                                                  Ram I                       4.6      6.2                                      Rugby                                                                         SD Common                            3.2                                      Shasta             7.1               5.7                                      Sydsport 2.7                5.8      6.0                                      Touchdown                                                                              2.7       6.8      5.8      6.1                                      Trampas            6.3                                                        Trenton                                                                       Vantage  2.6                5.5      3.6                                      Victa    2.8                5.5      6.5                                      Wabash                               4.8                                      ______________________________________                                                 Lincoln              Gervais                                                                              Marysville                                        Nebraska Agassiz British                                                                           Oregon Ohio                                              2 Year   Columbia    3 Year 5 Year                                   Variety  Mean     1 Year Mean Mean   Mean                                     ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              6.0      5.5         2.6    2.8                                      A-34     6.2                                                                  Adelphi  6.1                  2.4    2.7                                      Admiral                                                                       America                       2.5                                             Aquila                                                                        Banff                                                                         Baron    5.6                                                                  Birka    5.9                                                                  Bonnieblue                                                                             5.8                                                                  Bono              5.2                                                         Bristol  5.9      6.1         2.8    2.7                                      Cheri    6.3                                                                  Columbia                                                                      Eclipse  5.8                                                                  Enmundi  5.9                                                                  Fylking  6.1                                                                  Geary                                                                         Georgetown        4.9                                                         Geronimo          5.1                                                         Glade    6.4                  2.5                                             Gnome                         2.3                                             Kenblue                       1.4                                             Melba             5.9                                                         Merion   5.9      5.3                                                         Merit    6.0      4.9         2.4                                             Midnight 5.9                                                                  Monopoly                                                                      Mosa                                                                          Mystic                                                                        Nassau                                                                        Newport                              1.4                                      Nugget                                                                        Parade   6.5                         2.7                                      Park     5.7                         2.1                                      Ram I    5.9                                                                  Rugby                                                                         SD Common                                                                     Shasta                                                                        Sydsport 6.3                                                                  Touchdown                                                                              5.9                                                                  Trampas           5.7                                                         Trenton  5.8                         2.6                                      Vantage  5.7                  2.2    2.6                                      Victa                                                                         Wabash                                                                        ______________________________________                                                 Prince Frederick                                                                            Somis      Marysville                                           Maryland      California Ohio                                        Variety  4 Year Mean   1 Year Mean                                                                              2 Year Mean                                 ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              2.2           2.8        2.3                                         A-34                                                                          Adelphi  2.4                      1.9                                         Admiral                                                                       America                                                                       Aquila                                                                        Banff                                                                         Baron    2.4                                                                  Birka    1.8                                                                  Bonnieblue                                                                             2.3                                                                  Bono     1.9                                                                  Bristol  2.3           3.0        2.1                                         Cheri                                                                         Columbia 2.5                                                                  Eclipse                                                                       Enmundi                                                                       Fylking                                                                       Geary                                                                         Georgetown                                                                    Geronimo                                                                      Glade                             2.0                                         Gnome                             2.0                                         Kenblue  1.8                                                                  Melba                                                                         Merion                                                                        Merit    2.3                                                                  Midnight 2.4                                                                  Monopoly                                                                      Mosa                   2.3                                                    Mystic                                                                        Nassau                                                                        Newport                                                                       Nugget                                                                        Parade                                                                        Park     2.0                                                                  Ram I    2.4                                                                  Rugby    2.2                                                                  SD Common                                                                     Shasta                                                                        Sydsport                          2.0                                         Touchdown                                                                     Trampas                                                                       Trenton  2.4                                                                  Vantage  2.3                                                                  Victa    2.3           2.5        2.0                                         Wabash                                                                        ______________________________________                                         Rating Scale: Larger number indicates higher quality.                    

In addition, Ba 72-492 tolerates shady growing conditions very wellwhich is an important characteristic that allows an even broader rangeof use. Comparisons of Ba 72-492 and other varieties for shadeperformance are found in Table 9 and Table 10.

                  TABLE 9                                                         ______________________________________                                        Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade of                               Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrass Varieties at Marysville, Ohio                          Quality                  4 Yr                                                 Year 1 Year 2   Year 3  Year 4 Mean                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              2.2      2.6      2.5   2.6    2.5                                   Merion   1.8      1.6      2.0   1.8    1.8                                   Fylking  1.8      1.9      1.9   2.0    1.9                                   A-34     2.0      2.2      2.6   2.7    2.4                                   Park     1.7      1.8      1.9   2.0    1.9                                   Newport  1.9      1.7      1.9   2.1    1.9                                   Bristol  1.8      2.1      2.2   1.8    2.0                                   Enmundi  2.0      2.0      2.2   2.5    2.2                                   Bonnieblue                                                                             2.0      1.7      2.0   1.7    1.9                                   Touchdown                                                                              1.8      2.1      2.1   1.7    1.9                                   Aquila   1.8      1.7      1.7   2.1    1.8                                   Parade   1.8      2.0      2.2   1.8    2.0                                   Victa    2.0      1.5      1.8   2.0    1.8                                   LSD (.05)         .46            .47                                          ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-4, 4 = Best                                                      

                  TABLE 10                                                        ______________________________________                                        Turf Performance Ratings Under Natural Shade of Ba 72-492                     and Other Bluegrass Varieties at Gervais, Oregon                              ______________________________________                                                              Quality                                                 Year 1                Year 2                                                          June    Aug.   Oct. Mean  Feb.  Sept.                                                                              Mean                             ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             3.3     3.2    2.8  3.1   2.5   2.8  2.7                              Bristol 2.5     2.8    2.3  2.6   3.0   1.7  2.4                              Gnome   3.5     1.0    1.0  1.8   1.0   0.5  .8                               Victa   2.8     1.8    1.7  2.1   2.0   1.8  1.9                              LSD(.05)                                                                              .97     .97    .63        .95   .96                                   ______________________________________                                                Year 3 Feb.   Year 4 May 4 Yr Mean                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             2.2           1.8        2.5                                          Bristol 2.0           2.3        2.3                                          Gnome   1.3           2.3        1.6                                          Victa   1.8           1.0        1.7                                          LSD(.05)                                                                              .83           .80                                                     ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-4, 4 = Best                                                      

The new variety has a pleasant medium green color which can bemaintained throughout the growing season and widely scattered locationsin the U.S.A. and Canada as shown by the comparative test results inTable 11.

                  TABLE 11                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Turf Color of Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrass                     Varieties at Various Locations in the U.S.A. and Canada.                      ______________________________________                                                          Truro                 Agassiz                                        St. Louis                                                                              Nova    Winnipeg                                                                             Lincoln                                                                              British                                        Missouri Scotia  Manitoba                                                                             Nebraska                                                                             Columbia                                       1 Year   1 Year  1 Year 2 Year 1 Year                                Variety  Mean     Mean    Mean   Mean   Mean                                  ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              9.2      7.1     7.2    7.0    5.7                                   A-34                      6.3    6.5                                          Adelphi  9.4                     7.2                                          America  9.4                     7.0                                          Aquila                    7.3    6.7                                          Baron    9.2              7.3    6.9                                          Birka    9.1                     6.7                                          Bonnieblue                       7.0                                          Bono     9.0                            6.0                                   Bristol  9.5                     7.3    7.0                                   Cheri                            7.0                                          Eclipse                          7.0                                          Enmundi                          7.0                                          Fylking                          6.8                                          Georgetown                              6.2                                   Geronimo                                5.8                                   Glade    9.3                     7.1                                          Gnome    9.3      7.5                                                         Kenblue                                                                       Melba             6.9                                                         Merion                           6.9    5.7                                   Merit    9.2              7.2    7.0    6.5                                   Midnight                  8.1    7.9                                          Mystic                    6.5                                                 Nassau                    7.2                                                 Newport                                                                       Nugget                    7.3                                                 Parade                           6.8                                          Park     9.0                     6.1                                          Ram I                            7.3                                          Rugby                            6.8                                          Shasta                    7.2                                                 Sydsport 9.2                     7.0                                          Touchdown                                                                              9.0              6.6    6.8                                          Trampas           6.9                                                         Vantage  9.2                     6.8                                          Victa    9.2      7.5            6.9                                          ______________________________________                                                                    Prince                                                     Gervais  Marysville                                                                              Frederick                                                                              Somis                                             Oregon   Ohio      Maryland California                                        3 Year   4 Year    4 Year   1 Year                                   Variety  Mean     Mean      Mean     Mean                                     ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              6.9      7.2       7.6      6.7                                      A-34                                                                          Adelphi  7.6                7.4                                               America  7.6                         6.5                                      Aquila                                                                        Baron                                                                         Birka                                6.3                                      Bonnieblue                                                                    Bono                                 6.2                                      Bristol  9.3      7.8       8.3      7.6                                      Cheri                                                                         Eclipse                                                                       Enmundi                                                                       Fylking           6.6                                                         Georgetown                                                                    Geronimo                                                                      Glade    8.3                8.0      7.0                                      Gnome    7.4                                                                  Kenblue  6.6      7.2                5.8                                      Melba                                                                         Merion            6.9                                                         Merit    7.4      7.1       7.4      5.8                                      Midnight                             5.5                                      Mystic                                                                        Nassau                                                                        Newport  7.5      7.0                6.0                                      Nugget                                                                        Parade                                                                        Park                        6.8                                               Ram I                                7.3                                      Rugby                                6.7                                      Shasta                                                                        Sydsport          7.1                                                         Touchdown                                                                     Trampas                                                                       Vantage           6.9       6.8      5.7                                      Victa    7.1      7.1       7.6      6.0                                      ______________________________________                                         Rating Scale: Larger number indicates darker green color.                

Turf diseases are one of the major causes of inconsistent and poor turfperformance among locations and years. Comparisons of resistance to leafspot (also known as melting out and crown rot) caused byHelminthosporium vagans, powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe graminis,rust caused by Puccinia spp., dollarspot caused by Sclerotinahomeocarpa, and red thread caused by Corticium fuciform are presented inTables 12,13,14,15,16 and 17, respectively.

                  TABLE 12                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Leafspot Disease Incidence on Ba 72-492 and                     Other Bluegrasses at Several Locations in the U.S.A. and                      ______________________________________                                        Canada.                                                                                                            Agassiz.sup.c                                     St. Louis.sup.a                                                                         Beltsville.sup.b                                                                        Adelphia.sup.b                                                                        British                                           Missouri  Maryland  New Jersey                                                                            Columbia                                          1 Year    1 Year    1 Year  1 Year                                   Variety  Mean      Mean      Mean    Mean                                     ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              3         8.3       6.3     3.0                                      A-34               5.3       4.3                                              Adelphi  2         8.0       5.7                                              America  8                                                                    Aquila                       6.3                                              Banff              5.3       7.0                                              Baron    2         7.0       8.7                                              Birka    5                   6.3                                              Bonnieblue                   7.0                                              Bono     7                           3.0                                      Bristol  2         7.0       8.3     2.3                                      Cheri              6.3                                                        Columbia           5.7       6.3                                              Eclipse            7.7       9.0                                              Enmundi            7.0                                                        Fylking            6.7       6.3                                              Geary                        2.0                                              Georgetown                           4.3                                      Geronimo                             4.7                                      Glade    2         7.3       6.3                                              Gnome    2         7.0       8.0                                              Kenblue            3.3       1.7                                              Merion             6.3       7.7     3.0                                      Merit    3         7.3       7.7                                              Midnight           7.0       7.0                                              Monopoly           5.3       6.0                                              Nassau             7.7       7.4                                              Newport                                                                       Parade             6.0       5.0                                              Park     52                                                                   Ram I              6.5       7.0                                              Regent                               3.7                                      Rugby                        5.0                                              Shasta                       6.0                                              Sydsport 3         7.3       6.3                                              Touchdown                                                                              7         7.7                                                        Trenton                      6.0                                              Vantage  7         5.0       2.0                                              Victa    2         8.0       7.0                                              Wabash                       2.0                                              LSD (.05)                                                                              7                   1.9                                              ______________________________________                                                              Marysville.sup.1                                                                         Marysville.sup.a                                      Gervais.sup.a Oregon                                                                       Ohio       Ohio(Shade)                                  Variety  3 Year Mean  5 Year Mean                                                                              1 Year Mean                                  ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              22           4          0                                            A-34                                                                          Adelphi  46           9                                                       America  29                      0                                            Aquila                                                                        Banff                                                                         Baron                                                                         Birka                            0                                            Bonnieblue                                                                    Bono                                                                          Bristol   8           5          2                                            Cheri                                                                         Columbia                                                                      Eclipse                                                                       Enmundi                                                                       Fylking                                                                       Geary                                                                         Georgetown                                                                    Geronimo                                                                      Glade    46                      0                                            Gnome    76                      0                                            Kenblue  75                      67                                           Merion                                                                        Merit    65                                                                   Midnight                                                                      Monopoly                                                                      Nassau                                                                        Newport  45                                                                   Parade                10                                                      Park                  54                                                      Ram I                                                                         Regent                                                                        Rugby                                                                         Shasta                                                                        Sydsport                                                                      Touchdown                        0                                            Trenton                                                                       Vantage               15                                                      Victa    70           7          0                                            Wabash                                                                        LSD (.05)                                                                              15           5          4                                            ______________________________________                                         Ratings                                                                       .sup.a % of turf affected by disease                                          .sup.b 1-9, 9 = least disease                                                 .sup.c 1-9, 9 = most disease                                             

                  TABLE 13                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Powdery Mildew Disease Incidence on                             Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrasses.                                              ______________________________________                                        Gervais        Natural Shade.sup.b                                                    Oregon     Marysville Ohio                                                                            Marysville Ohio                               Variety 1 Year Mean                                                                              3 Year Mean  2 Year Mean                                   ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              5          3           5                                             A-34                                                                          Adelphi                                                                       America                         7                                             Banff              15                                                         Birka                           2                                             Bristol  3         10           1                                             Eclipse                         3                                             Geronimo                        40                                            Glade              37           21                                            Gnome   78                      61                                            Kenblue                         2                                             Merion                                                                        Monopoly            2                                                         Mosa                                                                          Newport            33                                                         Nugget                                                                        Parade                                                                        Park                                                                          Rugby              15                                                         Touchdown                       0                                             Vantage                                                                       Victa   35         47           52                                            LSD (.05)                                                                             21         16           6                                             ______________________________________                                                                  Spaced Plants - Sun.sup.b                                   Prince Frederick Maryland                                                                       Marysville Ohio                                     Variety 1 Year Mean       2 Year Mean                                         ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              2                14                                                  A-34     2                52                                                  Adelphi 12                23                                                  America                                                                       Banff                                                                         Birka                                                                         Bristol  1                15                                                  Eclipse                                                                       Geronimo                                                                      Glade   57                 8                                                  Gnome                                                                         Kenblue                   20                                                  Merion                    12                                                  Monopoly                                                                      Mosa    58                                                                    Newport                                                                       Nugget                     5                                                  Parade                     5                                                  Park                      15                                                  Rugby                                                                         Touchdown                                                                     Vantage                   34                                                  Victa   25                14                                                  LSD (.05)                                                                             13                                                                    ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Rated 0-9,9 = least disease                                            .sup.b Rated as % of turf affected by disease                            

                  TABLE 14                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Stem Rust (Puccinia graminis)                                   Disease Incidence on Ba 72-492 and Other                                      Bluegrasses at Adelphia, New Jersey                                           ______________________________________                                               Ba 72-492                                                                             7.9                                                                   Midnight                                                                              7.0                                                                   Columbia                                                                              6.7                                                                   Banff   6.5                                                                   Bristol 7.7                                                                   Parade  6.2                                                                   Monopoly                                                                              7.1                                                                   Ram I   7.0                                                                   Victa   5.6                                                                   Merit   5.7                                                                   Baron   6.4                                                                   Nassau  6.8                                                                   Eclipse 4.7                                                                   Aquila  6.9                                                                   Bonnieblue                                                                            5.4                                                                   Adelphi 7.1                                                                   America 7.4                                                                   Vantage 6.2                                                                   Touchdown                                                                             3.5                                                                   Birka   3.5                                                                   Merion  2.4                                                                   LSD (.05)                                                                             0.9                                                            ______________________________________                                         Rated 1-9, 9 = No disease                                                

                  TABLE 15                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Rust (Puccinia spp.) Disease                                    Incidence on Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrasses.                                                                Unmowed Spaced                                         Turf         Gervais.sup.b                                                                           Plants                                                 Aggasiz.sup.a                                                                              Oregon    Marysville.sup.b                                       British Columbia                                                                           1 Year    Ohio                                           Variety 2 Year Mean  Mean      2 Year Mean                                    ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             1.2           2         9                                             A-34                           12                                             Adelphi              23        10                                             America               9                                                       Bono    2.1                                                                   Bristol 1.2           6        17                                             Geronimo                                                                              1.5                                                                   Glade                 4        11                                             Gnome                13                                                       Kenblue              30        23                                             Merion  2.8                    16                                             Merit   2.9           8                                                       Newport              23                                                       Nugget                         12                                             Parade                         15                                             Park                           25                                             Vantage                        36                                             Victa                 9        14                                             LSD (.05)            12                                                       ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Rated 1-9, 9 = most disease                                            .sup.b Rated as % of disease incidence                                   

                  TABLE 16                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Dollarspot Incidence                                            on Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrasses.                                                        Prince Frederick                                                                           Marysville                                          Variety      Maryland     Ohio                                                ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492     9           60                                                  Adelphi       8           20                                                  America                   13                                                  Baron        50           23                                                  Birka         6           47                                                  Bonnieblue   10                                                               Bono          4           63                                                  Bristol       6           17                                                  Columbia     10                                                               Eclipse                    8                                                  Glade                     40                                                  Gnome                     22                                                  Kenblue       8           37                                                  Merit         4                                                               Midnight      6                                                               Park                      33                                                  Ram I        40                                                               Rugby        12                                                               Sydsport                  43                                                  Touchdown                 50                                                  Trenton      28                                                               Vantage      11           15                                                  Victa         5           23                                                  Wabash       11                                                               LSD (.05)    19           24                                                  ______________________________________                                         Rating: % of turf that is affected by disease.                           

                  TABLE 17                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Red Thread Disease                                              Incidence on Ba 72-492 and Other                                              Bluegrasses at Gervais, Oregon.                                                           Red Thread                                                        ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492     7                                                               Victa         10                                                              Bristol       0                                                               Glade         15                                                              Adelphi       0                                                               Kenblue       23                                                              Newport       3                                                               America       2                                                               Merit         7                                                               Gnome         0                                                               LSD (.05)     13                                                              ______________________________________                                         Rating: % of turf affected by disease                                    

Tests in Maryland and Ohio indicate that Ba 72-492 is not highlysusceptible to stripe smut caused by Ustilago striiformis since someunreleased selections of bluegrass had a high incidence of stripe smutbut Ba 72-492 was not affected.

The new variety has a low growth habit and a slower vertical growth ratethan many varieties and especially the common type of varieties such asPark, Kenblue and Newport, as indicated by comparisons in Table 18,which should allow it to tolerate lower mowing heights and possiblydecrease the total number of mowings per year without sacrificingoverall turf performance.

                  TABLE 18                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Growth Habit of Ba 72-492 and                                   Other Bluegrasses at Marysville, Ohio.                                                 Test 1      Test 2      Test 3                                       Variety  1 Year Mean.sup.a                                                                         2 Year Mean.sup.a                                                                         3 Year Mean.sup.b                            ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                              2.0         1.4         74                                           Adelphi  2.0         2.4                                                      America  1.8                                                                  Baron    1.8                                                                  Birka    2.0                                                                  Bono     2.0                                                                  Bristol  2.0         2.0         74                                           Eclipse  2.0                                                                  Fylking                          93                                           Glade    2.2                                                                  Gnome    2.0                                                                  Kenblue  2.9                     96                                           Merion                           78                                           Merit                            84                                           Newport                          100                                          Parade               2.2                                                      Park     2.9         2.2                                                      Sydsport 1.9                     72                                           Touchdown                                                                              2.0                                                                  Vantage  2.7         2.0         84                                           Victa    1.9         2.0         77                                           LSD (.05)                                                                              0.3         0.5         12                                           ______________________________________                                         .sup.a Rated 1-5, 5 = high growth, 1 = dwarf.                                 .sup.b Rated as height (mm) of turf about one week after last mowing.    

The leaf texture of Ba 72-492 is similar to many bluegrass varietieswhen maintained under mowed turf conditions as the comparisons show inTable 19.

                  TABLE 19                                                        ______________________________________                                        Comparison of Leaf Texture of Ba 72-492 and Other                             Bluegrasses Under Mowed Turf Conditions.                                              St. Louis   Agassiz      Marysville                                   Variety Missouri    British Columbia                                                                           Ohio                                         ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             4.0         6.0          5.0                                          Adelphi 5.3                                                                   America 6.0                                                                   Baron   4.6                                                                   Birka   6.0                                                                   Bono    5.6         6.7                                                       Bristol 5.3         7.0          5.0                                          Fylking                          5.8                                          Geronimo            5.7                                                       Glade   6.0                                                                   Gnome   4.3                                                                   Kenblue                          5.5                                          Merion              6.3          5.0                                          Merit   4.3         5.0          5.0                                          Newport                          5.0                                          Park    6.0                                                                   Sydsport                                                                              5.0                      5.0                                          Touchdown                                                                             5.0                                                                   Vantage 6.0                      5.3                                          Victa   4.4                      4.8                                          LSD (.05)                                                                             0.7                      0.4                                          ______________________________________                                         Rating: 1-9, 9 = finest texture.                                         

Ba 72-492 has a medium level of seed yielding ability which should makeit an economically feasible variety to produce for commercial markets asshown in Table 20.

                  TABLE 20                                                        ______________________________________                                        Seed Yield Comparisons of Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrass                       Varieties in Oregon                                                           Gervais           La Grande                                                           Year   Year         Year             Madras                           Variety 1      2      Mean  1    Year 2                                                                              Mean  Year 1                           ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492                                                                             585     864   725   1025 846   936    875                             Ba 72-500                                                                             559     757   658    876 857   867   1113                             Victa   780    1394   1087  1419 1200  1310  1324                             Newport 435    1256   846                                                     Bristol 347     808   578   1089 970   1030                                   Mosa    322    1060   691                                                     Julia   296    1016   656                    1194                             Trampas                                       388                             LSD (.05)                                                                             140     134          149 181   220                                    ______________________________________                                         Ratings: Pounds per acre of conditioned seed.                            

The low susceptibility of Ba 72-492 to rust and lodging under typicalseed field conditions should aid in producing economical seed crops asnoted by the comparative results on Table 21.

                  TABLE 21                                                        ______________________________________                                        Plant Characteristics of Ba 72-492 and Other Bluegrass Varieties              at Gervais, Oregon Under Seed Production Conditions.                                  Rust        Lodging                                                           Year 1      Year 1  Year 2                                            ______________________________________                                        Ba 72-492 1             2.5     0.2                                           Victa     2             2.0     0                                             Bristol   4             4.0     1                                             Newport   4             4.0     1                                             Mosa      4             2.0     0                                             Julia     4             5.0     4                                             ______________________________________                                         Ratings                                                                       Rust: 1-4, 4 = very susceptible                                               Lodging: 0-5, 5 = severe lodging                                         

What is claimed is:
 1. A variety of Kentucky bluegrass plant,substantially as shown and described, characterized particularly by ahigh level of resistance to diseases, a desirable green color throughoutthe growing season, a high quality persistent turf under a wide range ofenvironmental conditions including shady conditions and a medium levelof seed yielding capacity.